The "I'm Too Unhealthy to Do Raw" Argument

You know about raw foods, I know about raw foods, and we both know people who know about raw foods. It seems like more and more people know about this lifestyle than ever before -- and that's absolutely true! But, it's still true that, on the whole, the average person on the street knows almost nothing about it. As such, if you're a raw foodist, you often find yourself in situations in which you're explaining it to people. (Obviously, as raw foods bloggers, we're more than happy to do so, of course!)

Amid all of these explanations to new friends and new readers, it's not too uncommon to hear people scoff at the idea in one way or another. Common objections include things like:

I *have* to have bread, so I could never do that.

I could never give up meat.

I love cheese too much.

That sounds like too much work.

That's too boring; not enough variety.

There's nothing good to make, or nothing I'd like.

and many others, such as the usual protein and B-12 arguments.

We don't argue with people, though, or proselytize (well, at least not in, we hope, any kind of pressuring or annoying way). If someone wants to know, though, we're downright thrilled to show and tell -- always, and without exception. In fact, it's more rewarding to put our energy toward those who come to us with an interest than to try to convert the masses.

Many times, the whole reason people approach us in the first place is because of the dramatic change they've seen in us. All people who are unhealthy want to regain their health. That's nearly a universal constant. Yes, there may be people who sincerely wish to die, but they're likely a minority -- and, let's be honest, some of those poor souls are probably just upset and frustrated about their health! Imagine how Wendi and I felt all those years, eating largely healthy foods, yet still being overweight. I'm sure many of you reading this can relate. The word "frustration" could easily be represented in the dictionary by a picture of an overweight person looking longingly at others eating anything they please, and yet those others are all thin! "Why me !"

And so people approach us desperate to know what finally did the trick. Only, when we tell them, it's clear that not everyone is ready to make the kind of changes we recommend.? No worries, of course ... at least they know and might someday return to raw. For those people who won't do it, I usually just say, "Well, at a minimum, at least just try eating more fruits and veggies. Just eat a lot of salads and snack on fruits. Cut down on processed foods, etc."

Quite interestingly, there is one surprisingly not-too-uncommon objection to raw that we wanted to talk about. This is the "I'm too unhealthy for raw" objection.? We were reminded of this just this morning when an email came in. The person commented:

I have many lengthy medical ailments as well as allergies at the age of 53. It wouldn't be of benefit for me to follow the regimen. It would be if I didn't suffer so much!

Wendi forwarded that to me, with a note on irony. Once again, we encounter that onerous disconnect between diet and health.? Yes, there are other factors that affect our health. But diet is, in our opinion, a "biggie." A focus on diet is in fact the cornerstone of all of the scientific health research that we've been hinting at here for a while (but are still not quite ready to discuss). More on that later.

In fairness, the media certainly plays a role in perpetuating this disconnect. For example, when former President Bill Clinton went into the hospital a few weeks ago for a couple of heart stents, the headlines focused on how there is no cure for heart disease. Even Clinton's cardiologist, Dr. Allan Schwartz of New York Presbyterian Hospital, made a special point to remark, "This was not a result of his lifestyle or his diet" (source). Instead, it was explained as stress-induced, lack of sleep, etc. The subtext of that seems to me to be, "Now, don't anyone panic ...keep eating those Big Macs and supersized fries, followed responsibly with a diet Coke."

What we eat has consequences -- things like "lengthy medical ailments as well as allergies at the age of 53." For me, it was weight issues, high blood pressure, and cardio-vascular stress. For Wendi, it was a litany of similar, and other even worse, ailments. Once we get into covering all of the scientific material we've been talking about, we'll even be able to show how diet likely played a role in Wendi's Lyme disease (both in getting it and in curing it!). But, the key message for most people who are suffering is that raw is probably a solution to your troubles -- especially if yor diet is not so healthy at the moment. That is to say, if I had allergies and ailments (and wanted to rid myself of them), I'd go full-on raw and see what happens in, say, 3-6 months. The beautiful thing is that, even if it doesn't cure you, it's highly unlikely that it'll hurt you. But, my money's on it helping you.

Original Comments

Below, we have included the original comments from this blog post. Additional comments may be made via Facebook, below.

I absolutely get this kind of comment often. I have a friend with diverticulitis who tells me he "cannot eat nuts or much fiber" but his coffee every morning with an over the counter fiber supplement is what his doctor allows. Then another friend with Crohn's disease - similar argument. And another with all kinds of issues including RA (rhumatoid arthritis) who says she cannot "eat salads", nuts or seeds, etc. Naturally, I recommend smoothies or fresh juices, especially wheatgrass... but that all falls on deaf ears, and that's IF they don't feel the need to argue the point first! Oh and let's not forget that I am not a "doctor with ten years of education" to my credit, as the first friend told me. How in the world could I dare compete with what their doctors have told them - hear my sarcasm! Oh it gets so frustrating that sometimes I have to take several days off from answering any questions near to these folks, or offering any advice at all when these same folks complain of their illnesses in front of me.
I am still trying to figure out ways to avoid confrontations and just love these folks through their misery. I pray for them and tell myself it is not up to me to save them - but that's hard for me. I want to help people!
So, thank you again y'all for this post. It definitely hits home for me...
big hugs!

I have so been there with the people complaining they don't want to give anything up. It's HARD to do! Perhaps their ailment isn't debilitating enough. when it is, they will be willing to give up more perhaps.

On February 19, 2010, ameliarta wrote:

It is difficult to do 100% raw when one has multiple food allergies, to nuts and other things. Also, I have a chronic illness (systemic lupus) and when I do 100% raw, I get horrible migraine headaches.

Just for the record, I'm not suggesting that you should eat things that you're allergic to. If you can't eat roasted nuts, then I wouldn't suggest that you eat them raw either. Are you allergic to *all* nuts? Is there a difference between your body's reaction to a cooked/roasted nut versus a raw one (assuming it's the same kind of nut)? (Those are meant as rhetorical questions for your own consideration -- not to engage in a health consultation right here. And, by the way, it could very well be that cooked does not bother you while raw does! Could be something like a lectin sensitivity, as lectins are largely destroyed with cooking. Google that for more info.) BTW, I believe I've posted some raw lupus info on the All Raw Directory. Perhaps some of that will help. Look in the Success Stories section. As for the headaches & so forth, there could be a million explanations. If it were me, though, as long as I've ruled out environmental factors for my illnesses, I'd *thoroughly* examine diet as the most likely culprit for everything. Since you're ill, you may need a special *protocol* of raw -- perhaps even pioneering it yourself if the protocol does not yet exist. This would be similar to Dr. Cousens' work on Diabetes. But my money's still on a profound solution for you via raw.

On February 19, 2010, ameliarta wrote:

Hi, Jim. Thanks so much for your reply. I am not allergic to all nuts, just some. I can have almonds, pecans and walnuts. The headaches are related to my food allergies. I think you may be very right in saying that my healing could be connected to a specially tailored raw diet. I also wanted to ask you about chronic Lyme, since our son has that. I know Wendi also had that and healed herself. Would you be able to tell me if she healed herself just by using a raw diet? I really appreciate your comments. God bless!

Almonds, pecans, and walnuts ! That's awesome -- you can make a billion delicious, nutritious things out of those. Those are staples in our diet, in fact. It's good to hear that you can eat some nuts because, if you were to do a 100% raw diet, you would not have trouble getting enough calories. Without nuts and other fats, it can be challenging for some. (Although, technically, I don't believe we need as much fat as a lot of raw people eat.)

As for designing a specially tailored healing diet... that dovetails with the Lyme discussion, which we'll be having in the future here. It's literally too vastly complicated to explain in the comments. I would say, for your son, that raw certainly worth a try -- especially if he's not raw already -- and in cooperation with a health care professional. For additional guidance and possible direction, look up Lyme on our blog here, as we published many resources (books we were reading, protocols, etc.) back while Wendi was ill.

She did not take long-term antibiotics, but she did try a course of Doxycyclene. But, the Lyme had already been in her system for too long once she started them (thanks to an idiot doctor -- story on th blog). Our research showed that antibiotics are only effective if the disease is caught before it becomes chronic.

On February 20, 2010, ameliarta wrote:

So, if I may ask, she mainly healed herself just by doing raw food? Did she also do some of the herbs recommended in the Lyme books?

On February 22, 2010, sherylmiller wrote:

Way to go Jim,
Yes I still get comments from closest friends, protein/meat/cheese etc and I am a vegetarian.
I need to take it up a notch and require more of myself!
Thanks Jim and Wendi for reminding that there is more I can do for my self, I should be the walking example!

Amelia, you'll need to search the blog for info on what I tried/didn't try and how each thing worked/didn't work. We don't have time to retype the story right now. After I return from the tour and we complete our studies, I'll be able to share exactly what I did to heal my body from th lyme disease. In the meantime, please read everything we've already shared here on the blog. It may be helpful to you. :-)